The New Orleans Saints are losing another free agent, as starting left tackle Jermon Bushrod has reached a five-year contract with the Chicago Bears. Bushrod's deal reportedly is worth $35.965 million, with $17.715 million guaranteed.

New Orleans Saints left tackle Jermon Bushrod signeda 5-year contract with the Bears on Tuesday.Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

Bushrod joins former Saints offensive line coach Aaron Kromer, who left earlier this offseason to become the Bears' offensive coordinator.

Bushrod said the Saints were never really a legitimate option in contract talks.

"It's crazy but it had to be done," Bushrod said Tuesday evening. "This whole process has been bittersweet. My heart is in New Orleans. I'm going to get married in New Orleans. I had my baby in New Orleans. But at the end of the day, I had to make the best move and this was it. I couldn't really wait around, and they (the Saints) knew that."

Bushrod's signing with the Bears marks the second straight season the Saints have lost a key member of their offensive line in free agency. Last season, they lost All-Pro left guard Carl Nicks on the first day of free agency after he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Saints responded by quickly signing Baltimore Pro Bowl guard Ben Grubbs. The deal Bushrod signed was similar to the five-year, $36 million ($15.9 million guaranteed) the Saints inked Grubbs to last season.

But it was clear the Saints were not going to overpay to keep Bushrod, a four-year starter who made the Pro Bowl this past season.

His loss leaves the Saints with a gaping hole on the left side of the line to protect quarterback Drew Brees' blind side.

Unless the Saints are able to land a left tackle in free agency, their top option to replace Bushrod is former second-round draft pick Charles Brown, who has been hampered by injuries in his three seasons in New Orleans.

There are some options in free agency. Among the available left tackles are Atlanta's Sam Baker, Washington's Jammal Brown and Miami's Jake Long. But it remains unclear which direction the Saints want to take.